The Prophetic Wizardry of Elisha
After eighteen years of researching pastoral trends, Dr. Richard Krejcir says, “Pastors are in a dangerous occupation! (It is) the single most stressful and frustrating working profession, more than medical doctors, lawyers, politicians…” Perhaps pastoral ministry has simply run its God-given course – its time is over. Perhaps it is simply not as effective as worship music, small groups, dynamic programs, or ministry activism today. Or perhaps, pastoral ministry needs to be re-envisioned and renewed by the prophetic wizardry of Elisha. Welcome to 1 Kings 19.19-21.
“Elijah passed by him (Elisha) and cast his cloak upon him (verse 19).” Elijah’s cloak is symbolic of the prophet’s office. The prophet’s office is an official God-given role to speak God’s words into Israel and the world. Today, we call it pastoral ministry. Elisha is being called to be a prophet, to speak people back to life again, to perform prophetic wizardry.
“But I’m not a pastor and never will be!” you say. “What does this have to do with me?” Everything. The first part of verse 19 says, “So he (Elijah) departed from there and found Elisha…” “So” summarizes all the darkness, distress, desperation, depression, and destruction currently suffocating the ancient world at this time. In other words, when all is lost God sends someone to speak His words. There is something magical about the spoken Word. It speaks us back to life again.
Watch how the magic works. First verse 19, “Elijah passed by him (Elisha) and cast his cloak upon him…” We could say, Elijah casts the Word of God upon Elisha or smothers Elisha with God’s Word. Second verse 20, “And (the result of being “cloaked” with God’s Word) he (Elisha) left the oxen and ran after Elijah…” Third verse 21, “And (the result of being “cloaked” with God’s Word) (he) took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and (the result of being “cloaked” with God’s Word) boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate…” What is going on here? The answer is Elisha is changing on-the-spot by the power of God’s spoken words. Elisha is a very fit (i.e. he is handling 24 oxen!) and wealthy land-owner who not only leaves it all to follow Elijah into prophetic ministry, but who also feels his need for God’s grace (i.e. the sacrifice) and a self-giving love for others (i.e. the massive BBQ party for his neighborhood). Elisha is coming back to life again. Magic is happening. How do you plan on changing?
Jesus preached this passage in Luke 9:62: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Startling words. Jesus is saying, “There is no looking back. Ever. The kingdom of God requires absolute devotion.” No wonder everyone who heard this sermon walked away. They knew they could not do it. Do you?
But wait, how did Elisha do it then? The answer is he did not (verse 20): “And he left the
oxen and ran after Elijah and said, ‘Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.’ And he (Elijah) said to him, ‘Go back again, for what have I done to you?’” This passage makes no sense without a Better Elisha who eventually puts his hand to plow and never looks back, for all those who do. When we are “cloaked” with these words, we come back to life again.
“Elijah passed by him (Elisha) and cast his cloak upon him (verse 19).” Elijah’s cloak is symbolic of the prophet’s office. The prophet’s office is an official God-given role to speak God’s words into Israel and the world. Today, we call it pastoral ministry. Elisha is being called to be a prophet, to speak people back to life again, to perform prophetic wizardry.
“But I’m not a pastor and never will be!” you say. “What does this have to do with me?” Everything. The first part of verse 19 says, “So he (Elijah) departed from there and found Elisha…” “So” summarizes all the darkness, distress, desperation, depression, and destruction currently suffocating the ancient world at this time. In other words, when all is lost God sends someone to speak His words. There is something magical about the spoken Word. It speaks us back to life again.
Watch how the magic works. First verse 19, “Elijah passed by him (Elisha) and cast his cloak upon him…” We could say, Elijah casts the Word of God upon Elisha or smothers Elisha with God’s Word. Second verse 20, “And (the result of being “cloaked” with God’s Word) he (Elisha) left the oxen and ran after Elijah…” Third verse 21, “And (the result of being “cloaked” with God’s Word) (he) took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and (the result of being “cloaked” with God’s Word) boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate…” What is going on here? The answer is Elisha is changing on-the-spot by the power of God’s spoken words. Elisha is a very fit (i.e. he is handling 24 oxen!) and wealthy land-owner who not only leaves it all to follow Elijah into prophetic ministry, but who also feels his need for God’s grace (i.e. the sacrifice) and a self-giving love for others (i.e. the massive BBQ party for his neighborhood). Elisha is coming back to life again. Magic is happening. How do you plan on changing?
Jesus preached this passage in Luke 9:62: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Startling words. Jesus is saying, “There is no looking back. Ever. The kingdom of God requires absolute devotion.” No wonder everyone who heard this sermon walked away. They knew they could not do it. Do you?
But wait, how did Elisha do it then? The answer is he did not (verse 20): “And he left the
oxen and ran after Elijah and said, ‘Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.’ And he (Elijah) said to him, ‘Go back again, for what have I done to you?’” This passage makes no sense without a Better Elisha who eventually puts his hand to plow and never looks back, for all those who do. When we are “cloaked” with these words, we come back to life again.
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